Carousel Productions organized and launched the first Miss Earth beauty pageant in 2001 as an international environmental event with the mission of channeling the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool to actively promote the preservation of the environment.[18][19][20]

Miss Earth is one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world in terms of the number of national-level competitions to participate in the world finals along with its rivals Miss Universe and Miss World.[21][22][23][24]

Those who participate in the pageant are involved with humanitarian and environmental causes.[27][28] The pageant winner is expected to be involved in international projects, which are also promoted during the pageant's broadcast.[29][30] The delegates also take part in tree planting ceremonies, environmental and cultural immersion programs, sponsor visits and tours.[20][27][31]

In October 2001, Miss Earth adopted the slogan "Beauties For a Cause",[26] but it was in 2003 that the first "beauty for a cause" prize was awarded.[32][33] In 2004, the Miss Earth Foundation was created to further the pageant's causes and to work with local and international groups and non-governmental organizations that are actively involved in conservation and improvement of the environment. The Miss Earth Foundation campaign focuses on educating young people in environmental awareness.[34] Its major project, “I Love Planet Earth School Tour", teaches and distributes educational aids for school children.[34][35][36]

The Miss Earth pageant has grown over the years, with more countries participating each year.[34] The number of national Miss Earth pageants has grown on every continent as well.[37]

On November 4, 2008, the first Miss Earth Eco-Fashion Design Competition was launched by the Miss Earth Foundation as an annual event for professional and non-professional fashion designers to come up with designs that are eco-friendly. The outfit designs are made from recyclable, natural materials, organic materials, and eco-chic designs or patterns that can be worn in everyday life or are runway worthy.[45][46]

In 2003, Vida Samadzai, an Afghan woman, now residing in the United States, received press attention after she competed in a red bikini.[47][48] Samadzai was the first Afghan woman to compete in an international beauty pageant in almost three decades, but the fact that she wore a bikini caused an uproar in her native country.[49][50]

Likewise, Miss Tibet Earth 2006, Tsering Chungtak, the first Tibetan to represent Tibet in any major international beauty pageant, made headlines when she drew international attention towards the Tibetan struggle for freedom. She also advocated for the boundaries of acceptable social etiquette towards modernity[clarification needed], in a traditionally conservative Tibetan culture, where most grown women wear ankle-length dresses. Nevertheless, her participation in the pageant received approval from the Dalai Lama.[54][55][56][57]

Carousel Productions licensed the Miss Cuba organization in 2007 to select the first Cuban representative at Miss Earth. Ariana Barouk won; she became the first Miss Cuba in several decades, and competed at the Miss Earth Pageant.[58][59] Also in 2007, Miss Earth made history when delegates from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Tibet all competed together for the first time in an international pageant in spite of political sensitivities.[41]

In 2009, Beauties of Africa, Inc., the franchise holder of Miss Earth South Sudan sent Aheu Kidum Deng, Miss South Sudan 2009, who stands 196 cm (6 feet and 5 inches), and is the tallest documented beauty queen ever to take part in any international beauty pageants.[65][66]

Also in the 2016 edition of the pageant, Miss Iraq Organization sent Susan Amer Sulaimani as Iraq's first representative since 1972 in Big Four pageants to participate in Miss Earth 2016.[69] However she was the only one who wore a dress instead of a bikini during the pageant's press-conference.[70][71]

In the 2017 pageant, Miss Rwanda Honorine Hirwa Uwase appeared in the swimsuit competition wearing a gown, maintaining a long-held Rwanda tradition of not wearing bikinis in public.[72][73][74][75]

Miss Lebanon 2018 Salwa Akar received international press attention when she was stripped of her title in Lebanon, while participating in Miss Earth 2018 pageant after she posted a photo in Facebook with her arm around Miss Israel's Dana Zerik and making peace signs.[76][77] Lebanon and Israel are in a long standing state of war.[78][79] As a result, she was unable to continue her participation in the Miss Earth pageant.[80] In a press release, Israel's Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Ofir Gendelman, reacted on Akar’s dethronement and condemned the "Lebanese apartheid."[81][82]

In 2010, the pageant finally took place for the first time outside the Philippines. The coronation night venue for Miss Earth 2010 was held at the Vinpearl Land Amphitheater at Nha Trang, Vietnam.[91][92][93]

In the early years of the pageant, from 2001 to 2003, ten semi-finalists were chosen at Miss Earth. From 2004 and onwards, sixteen semi-finalists are chosen with the exception of the 2010 (10th) edition where only 14 semi-finalists were selected.[109] Semi-finalists are cut to eight (8) finalists, then to the final four from which the runners-up and winner are announced.[41]

The winner of the pageant is bestowed the title Miss Earth; her runners-up are also given titles named after the other classical elements: Miss Fire (equivalent to third runner-up), Miss Water (second runner-up), and Miss Air (first runner-up),[41] however, starting 2010 the runners up or the “elemental titles” (Air, Water, and Fire) are of equal importance and thus have the same ranking.[110] Miss Earth is the only one of the "Big Four" pageants which has individual titles for the runners-up.[111][112]

On November 16, 2009, Miss Earth unveiled a new crown designed by environmentalist jewelry designer Ramona Haar with the frame made of 100% recycled 14K gold and argentums sterling silver and the stones composed of black diamonds, sardonyx, calcite, ruby, jade quartz crystal, garnet, peridot, and pearls gathered from over 80 of the participating countries in 2009.[116][117][117] In the 13th edition of the Miss Earth, new tiaras were introduced for the elemental titleholders called elemental crowns which represent air, water and fire with colorful stones in yellow, blue and red.[118]